The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has published its inaugural Stronger Together survey, highlighting ‘an industry of two halves’ following the recent mixed Autumn Budget.
Published in response to the growing need to highlight both the challenges and opportunities available to those in the industry, as well as support its 300-plus strong membership, the Stronger Together survey highlights the key issues facing the industry, offering valuable insight into the current state of the sector.
The findings revealed that almost half of event businesses surveyed (46%) forecasted higher revenue for 2025, yet nearly a third (29%) anticipated a decline. Early-year demand also mirrored this split, with 35% reporting more confirmed business for January 2025 than the same month in 2024, but 31% saw the opposite.
With the budget reaffirming lower tax rates for a quarter of a million businesses, a positive for many, it offers little meaningful assistance for the business events supply chain. Rises in National Living Wage will benefit workers but they also place additional pressure on employers, particularly when almost half (49%) report that clients have a poor understanding of the logistical realities and true costs of delivering services.
When it comes to staffing, over two-thirds (68%) said they were operating at full capacity, highlighting that almost a third (32%) are not operating where they should be, with 73% reporting that recruitment has been challenging in the last 12 months.
When asked about the biggest recruitment challenges, responses were far more weighted, with the vast majority (88%) saying it was mainly due to a shortage of skilled candidates.
Almost 9 in 10 (87%) reported that by far the biggest challenge for retaining staff is work-life balance, followed by the high-pressure environment (60%), yet less than a third offer mental wellbeing support such as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and almost half (48%) offer flexible or reduced hours during peak seasons.
There are positives on the horizon regarding recruiting new staff however, particularly for people entering the industry. With the Autumn budget announcing a new youth guarantee, which includes fully funded under-25 apprenticeships for SMEs, alongside a guaranteed pathway for young people into training, education or work, there is hope this could provide support in strengthening the talent pipeline in the events industry.
When it comes to sustainability, 68% of those surveyed said they have a formal sustainability plan in place, but nearly a third (32%) do not. When asked if business sustainability efforts increased in 2024 compared to 2023, the results are also strikingly similar with only 62% saying they did, with two thirds (66%) citing cost as the biggest challenge to implementation.
Speaking on the results of the Stronger Together survey, Andrew Harrison, CEO at ESSA, commented:
“These findings highlight a sector facing different realities. While some are seeing growth, others are being held back by soaring operating costs and ongoing recruitment hurdles.
“Although the Autumn budget contains measures we welcome, targeted measures have been directed toward hospitality and leisure, leaving our sector overlooked once again.
“We acknowledge the rise in the National Living Wage will make a positive difference for many workers. However, the associated costs for employers cannot be ignored, particularly when combined with recent changes such as adjustments to National Insurance. For businesses already trying to balance affordability with long-term sustainability, these cumulative pressures present significant challenges. It’s therefore unsurprising that 98% of our members are calling for greater government recognition of our industry’s economic contribution.
“In the face of ongoing pressures, ESSA’s mission is to help bridge that divide. We’re providing tools, best‑practice frameworks and a unified voice of advocacy so that every member can strengthen their resilience, sharpen their strategy and seize opportunity.”
The full results of our Stronger Together survey are available to view here.
